I have the same problem with dialect words that everyone is talking about. I sing a version of "Felton Lonnen" which is a Geordie song - mentioning the cows come home (pronounced the kyes come yen!) and I see not me hinnie! I come from Manchester, but don't have a very strong Mancunian accent- I think! I reckon I can just about get away with singing this one, but I wouldn't attempt to sing a whole Scots ballad using an imitation accent, I have to Anglisize, although as previously mentioned, dialect words have to be left in so as not to lose the original poetry. I sang "Bonnie at morn" last year at the Manchester Northumbrian Piper's day and was asked which part of the North East I came from, so my accent must have been passable! - perhaps a general Northern accent is enough to carry this type of song, whereas the big ballads need a different approach.

I grew up thinking I spoke standard English and was amazed when I met Bob (who grew up in Anglesey, North Wales) to find that I used loads of words that he didn't understand :- manky, mithering, skriking, nowty, to mention just a few!

Ah mun stop naw, an brew a mug o tay!

Sue vG